WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP COAH COMMITTEE MEETING

APRIL 8, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.

Members present were Peter Buchsbaum, Ruth Hall, Joan Vanderveen, Linda Wilson, Betty Jane Hunt, and Susan Molnar

Ms. Hunt made a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting, seconded by Ms. Vanderveen.  All present voted to approve the minutes with the exception of Ms. Vanderveen, who abstained from the vote.  The motion carried.

Ms. Vanderveen distributed the latest revised ECHO Handbook.  The Committee spent some time reviewing the document.  Ms. Vanderveen suggested that comments be e-mailed back to her.  The Committee thanked Ms. Vanderveen on a job well done.

Ms. Wilson made a motion to approve the ECHO Handbook, seconded by Ms. Hall.  All present voted to approve the motion.  The motion carried.  Mr. Buchsbaum will now present the ECHO Handbook to the Township Committee for their review and approval.

Ms. Hunt discussed Accessory Apartments which are not currently rented.  According to Ms. Hunt, Mr. Corboy’s unit has not been rented in years, and he may sell the home.  Ms. Hunt further reported that Ken Bailles received permission to have an Accessory Apartment, but never built the home.  Members of the Committee reviewed the Accessory Apartment Manual and discovered that there is a timeframe of three (3) years whereby an Accessory Apartment must be made available or else the unit will be forfeited.  It was suggested that Mr. Bailles be notified that his permission to have an Accessory Apartment in his as yet un-built home, has expired.

Ms. Hunt distributed copies of the COAH Annual Report, and asked all of the Committee members to review the document for the next meeting.   

Ms. Hunt reported that there is currently $47,707.35 in the housing trust fund.

It was agreed that Committee members would begin to review the Accessory Apartment Program Handbook for updating.  The Handbook was developed on September 18, 1996, and has not been updated since that time.  In previous reviews of the document, it was determined that an update is needed.

With no further business before the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

We will meet again on Thursday, May 22, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Molnar